Making a Difference in Your Community : Neighborhood Groups Target Crime, Quakes

Los Angeles police and a Neighborhood Watch group for an Encino neighborhood are using ESP to fight crime against senior citizens and apartment dwellers.

In this case, ESP stands for Earthquake assistance, Security and Protection. It is a program in which individual apartment buildings form their own crime-prevention and disaster-preparedness groups.

“We decided the Neighborhood Watch program was not working, or at least not doing the job that it should have been doing,” said Leonard Rosen, who recently became head of the program.

Although this ESP program does not use psychic power to fight crime, Rosen and Senior Lead Officer Vic Monroe of the Los Angeles Police Department hope to deter crime by helping participating residents become better prepared. “We don’t expect to catch the crooks,” Rosen said.

Under the ESP program, Rosen and Monroe give presentations at apartment complexes on how residents can prepare for an earthquake, survey the building to point out security problems and take measures to protect themselves from crime.

Monroe is testing the ESP program in a five-square-block area in Encino bounded by White Oak and Lindley avenues and Ventura and Burbank boulevards. The neighborhood has about 20,000 people, mostly apartment-dwelling senior citizens who are often victims of crime, Monroe said.

The police say they need volunteers to help them protect the neighborhood because the many apartment buildings with parking garages cannot be easily patrolled. If successful, the program may be expanded to other areas, Monroe said.

“There are quite a few things that people do wrong,” Rosen said. “One of the common things is that women will wear their jewelry to the store. They don’t protect their belongings. For most people, if someone comes to the door (of their apartment building), they will open the door for them.”

The next meeting for the ESP group is at 7 p.m. next Tuesday at 5310 Zelzah Ave. Another meeting will be held at 7 p.m. Sept. 29 at 5250 Zelzah Ave. Those who want to get involved in the group should contact Rosen or Monroe at the LAPD’s West Valley station, (818) 756-9891.

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The Make-a-Wish Foundation will hold a meeting for those who are interested in working on the new Sponsor-a-Wish program today from 7 to 9 p.m. at the Warner Center Hilton Hotel in Woodland Hills. Make-a-Wish grants wishes to children with terminal and life-threatening illnesses. The Sponsor-a-Wish campaign will be targeted toward corporations, service organizations and professional groups, as well as retail and commercial outlets in the community. The hotel is at 6360 Canoga Ave. For more information about volunteering for Make-a-Wish, call (800) 322-9474.

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The Children’s Bureau of Southern California is looking for volunteers, married or single, to provide short- or long-term care as foster parents for infants, toddlers and younger school-age children. Bilingual foster parents are needed. Those interested can attend an information session from 7 to 8 p.m. Wednesday at the Children’s Bureau Los Angeles office, 3910 Oakwood Ave. Qualifying adults will receive training, certification and funds to aid in the care of the children. For more information, call Zenayda Fuentes at (213) 953-7356, ext. 419.

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Habitat for Humanity of the San Fernando/Santa Clarita Valleys is looking for volunteers to work on earthquake repairs and on an eight-unit condominium project in Pacoima. Habitat for Humanity is a nonprofit group that builds homes for people in need. No special skills are required, but people willing to work during the week are especially needed. To volunteer, call June Davis at (818) 765-2073.

Getting Involved is a weekly listing of volunteering opportunities. Please address prospective listings to Getting Involved, Los Angeles Times, 20000 Prairie St., Chatsworth 91311. Or fax them to (818) 772-3338.